da dobrowin: The Uruguyan's fine goal salvaged a first-leg draw for Los Blancos after a chaotic contest at Santiago Bernabeu
da bet7k: Federico Valverde's superb volley to snag a 3-3 draw capped off a chaotic contest between Real Madrid and Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. The Uruguayan's memorable strike rounded out an evening of fortunate deflections, highlight-reel goals, and feisty challenges that amounted to a frantic draw that both sides will probably accept.
Los Blancos endured a nightmarish start, as Bernardo Silva's quick free-kick caught Andriy Lunin out at his near post. The hosts levelled the game soon after, though, as Eduardo Camavinga's deflected strike wrong-footed Stefan Ortega in the City net. Rodrygo then put Madrid ahead two minutes later, scampering in behind the defence and tucking the ball home.
Madrid could have added one or two more following half-time, but Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr both missed chances within the first 15 minutes of the second half. And Phil Foden made them pay, the England midfielder unleashing a fine curled effort that kissed the top corner to level the game at 2-2. Josko Gvardiol added a memorable goal of his own to make it 3-2, the left-back smashing home from 20 yards to give the visitors the lead again, but Valverde restored parity soon after, battering the ball into the bottom corner to equalise.
GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from Santiago Bernabeu…
Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence
Andriy Lunin (6/10):
Really should have kept out Bernardo's opener, even if he can have a gripe or two about Madrid's failure to set up a proper wall. Couldn't do anything about the other two, and made a neat stop to deny Haaland.
Dani Carvajal (6/10):
Given a hard time by the lively Grealish, but was composed ion the key moments.
Aurelien Tchouameni (5/10):
Picked up a booking to rule him out from the second leg within 38 seconds. Should have closed Gvardiol down on City's third.
Antonio Rudiger (8/10):
The Haaland killer? Kept the big striker quiet throughout, and really couldn't have done much more – despite the fact that his side gave up three goals.
Ferland Mendy (8/10):
Marshalled the left side of the pitch effectively. Won a number of important duels towards the end of the first half. His best showing in a while.
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Eduardo Camavinga (7/10):
Grabbed the equaliser with a slightly fortunate deflected strike. Spent the rest of the game putting out fires in midfield and keeping things moving.
Federico Valverde (8/10):
Full of energy all night, and ate up ground. Scored an absolute peach of a goal to level it.
Toni Kroos (6/10):
Didn't get on the ball as much as usual, but was still remarkably efficient when he had it. His influence waned as the game opened up.
Jude Bellingham (7/10):
Flew into tackles, won the ball regularly, and showed the kind of grit Madrid needed. Fortunate not to get booked, though, and is therefore lucky not to be suspended for the second leg.
Getty ImagesAttack
Rodrygo (8/10):
May have gotten a kind glance on his goal, but he did all the hard work to make it happen. Tormented the City defence all night.
Vinicius Jr (8/10):
Played a wonderful pass to setup Rodrygo's goal, and rovided another assist for Valverde's leveller. Perhaps could have been cleaner with efforts of his own, but his production is nothing to be sniffed at.
Getty ImagesSubs & Manager
Luka Modric (7/10):
Brought Madrid back into it with some classy moments on the ball.
Brahim Diaz (6/10):
Won it back a few times, and didn't seem intimidated by the pace of the game.
Joselu (N/A):
No time to make an impact.
Carlo Ancelotti (7/10):
Made a brave call to start Tchouameni in defence, but put out an otherwise full-strength line-up. Madrid were brilliant in moments, but he might rue their lack of quality in front of goal at times. A draw is far from a bad result, but his side perhaps could have scored more. Still, it's all to play for.